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ROCKOLLECTIONS: OLD ODDS & ENDS FROM 2007 PT.2 END

THIS IS AN ENCORE- I AM ON VACATION

Putting this out there early on a borrowed laptop, as I digest lunch and relax, then plan the next travel move.
And hey, since this is 4 tears old I have been doing the radio thing for over 13 years now, even twice won awards.
Who would have guessed?

I have a few songs for a Labor Day to open this chapter up.
The Manfred Mann show I did a while back was a very popular one, and on it I mentioned the first version of Bob Dylan’s If You Gotta Go I ever heard was in French by the Fairport Convention. They called it Si Du Dois Partir.
Don’t ask me to pronounce it, but I will play it.
From French to Spanish, with a song I haven’t played in decades by the Young Rascals.
It was, I believe, the flip side of Groovin’- and the Rascals, like all the truly good ones, were known for some amazing flip sides.
I can easily think of two or three more that are better than most A-sides!
Then some humble self-indulgence.
I started at my station on August 25, 1998- and miraculously have lasted now over 9 years!
I may seem like a sweetheart of a guy on the air, but…it was touch and go many a time, lol!
So two songs for that- one a great big thanks to any and all who listen or have anything to do with the show.
The other for my inspiration, Scott Muni.
I play music the way I do because of Scott, and of course several other muses.
But Scottso was the first that did it for me, and gave me the bug to present songs in a hopefully smart fashion- for a smart audience.
Beginning in December 1967, and lasting for I don’t know how many years, Scott ended his show every day with this song.
And in those early FM years, he used to be on SEVEN DAYS a week!
He would after that always play it on his anniversary show, and I would always tear up from all the great memories that radio, and true radio personalities (which are becoming extinct), can uniquely provide.
I still miss the guy, and I will do my weak, lame imitation of him to close this one out.
As I have been on the internet for only a short time, just think, you missed all the incredibly dumb and stupid things I have said and done in the years prior.
Be as thankful for that as I am so hugely thankful to you for listening now, lol!

Mike

Tags: A-sides, August 25 1998, Bob Dylan’s If You Gotta Go, December 1967, Engineer Ken Stanley, Fairport Convention, flip side of Groovin’, French, Labor Day, Manfred Mann, Scott Muni, Si Du Dois Partir, Spanish, Young Rascals

ROCKOLLECTIONS: A CELEBRATION OF WINTER PT.4 CONCLUSION

My beloved Winter ain’t over yet.
I am going to open up this final chapter with a set of music about those freezing Cold Winds that are always able to slip in through the cracks, no matter what kind of house you live in.
We will hear from the Fairport Convention, the Doors and a great but grossly ignored group called Spirit.
I have some info on the famous 1816 Winter Without Summer- in which Connecticut had blizzards in JUNE & JULY!
Plus all the strange temps in other places that year.
We are all aware that it is always colder at night in the Winter, sometimes by as much as 15 to 20 degrees or more.
And never more so than when you are without your sweetheart, your main squeeze.
So some songs about that.
Including the beautiful “On A Winter’s Night” by Willie Nininger- with lyrics like these, “…just for now, we’ll stay by the radio, we’ll sing every song we know, turn off all the lights, wrap the blankets warmly, shut the windows tight, put your arms around me- for all we know, it may snow tonight”.
And an equally wonderful song from Gordon Lightfoot, one of the rare non-Christmas songs to have sleigh bells in it. Listen for them.
I have chosen an appropriate and meaningful to me song to end it all with.
This was great fun for me.
I hope I have made the case that Winter songs can be just as good as Summer ones.
And hey, remember it is STILL Winter- for all we know, it MAY snow tonight!

Mike

Tags: 1816 Winter Without Summer, Cold Winds, Connecticut, Fairport Convention, Gordon Lightfoot, On A Winter's Night, Spirit, Summer Songs, The Doors, Willie Nininger

ROCKOLLECTIONS: THIS IS A MANN’S WORLD PT.1

I think I can guarantee you a fun time with this one,

it was a treat for me to do!

The music of that 60’s British Invasion group, Manfred Mann.

Just wait till you hear these songs- the memory section of your brain will be in overdrive.

We will start off with a countdown, 5-4-3-2-1.

The band was asked to provide a new theme for the famous British TV music show, Ready, Steady, Go.

That was what they came up with, and it was their first hit.

Then it is on to two nonsense titled songs, including their biggest ever hit, Do Wa Diddy Diddy- and listen closely, I have a rare TRUE stereo version that you don’t usually hear.

As usual, I will be telling you a bit about the band throughout.

Next up, the recipe that made ME- Hubble Bubble, Toil & Trouble.

Followed by a racy song for its time, written by Bob Dylan, though not released by him.

A song I first heard in FRENCH- by the old Fairport Convention, called by them, Si Tu Doir Partir.

Well, here is the first English version I heard. If You Gotta Go, Go Now (Or Else You’ll Have To Stay All Night). My sentiments exactly!

If I didn’t outright say it, I suggested as much many times in my lifelong bachelor life, lol!

The tune reached # 2 on the British charts despite being banned or edited by many stations.

Then one of the most autobiographical songs I have ever heard, The One In The Middle.

Listen closely to those lyrics- they name NAMES! Of course they are their OWN names, but still…

Got their version of the old Coasters song after that, Poison Ivy- and a damn good version it is.

We will close this episode out with one I’ll bet you haven’t heard in years, Ha Ha Said The Clown- and a song that always make me really laugh out loud, thinking of those folks who are afraid of clowns.

That calls for another Mike Pell Moment Of Clarity.

People, now hear this. There are many things in the world to fear. Clowns are NOT one of them, LOL!!!

By the way, Engineer Ken said he was dedicating that clown song to me.

Wonder why?

There will be more Manfred forthcoming in Part Two.

Mike

Tags: 5-4-3-2-1, Bob Dylan, Do Wah Diddy, Engineer Ken, Fairport Convention, Ha Ha Said The Clown, Hubble Bubble Toil & Trouble, If You Gotta Go Go Now, Manfred Mann, Poison Ivy, Ready Steady Go, Si Tu Doir Partir, The Coasters, The One In The Middle